Wolves of the World

Wolves come in many shapes, sizes and colors... varying from the brawny black wolves
of Canada’s Mackenzie River to the petite tawny wolves that once roamed the Falkland Islands. The wolves
of the world have captured human fascination for as long as memory serves. We have persecuted them for
daring to compete with us for resources and yet we have also invited them into our homes to live as
domesticated dogs. For as long as we have maintained our fascination with them, we have also been trying
to classify them. Today we recognize nine distinct species of wolf (one of which humans drove to extinction
in 1879 and one with an odd name) spread over six continents.

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)

The gray wolf is the largest wild canid, usually weighing between
70 and 120 lbs. They vary in coloration greatly - from black to gray to tawny to white.
Gray wolves have slanted eyes, varying from yellow to deep amber in color. To allow for
swift and efficient movement through snow, brush and other conditions, gray wolves have
narrow chests, with elbows set close together. A gray wolf’s tail is straight and usually
hangs to its hock (knee). Gray wolves have noticeably larger heads than other canids,
which is often attributed to their high level of intelligence. Their large paws, which
are webbed with fur, aid in movement across mud and snow.

Being very social animals, gray wolves live, travel, and hunt in packs
of typically 2-15 animals, though there have been reports of up to 38 wolves in one pack.
Gray wolves are opportunistic predators, which mean they hunt large and small game, but will
also feed off of carrion. Because of the gray wolf’s large pack size and intricate social
hierarchy, they can work together to bring down large game such as deer, elk, bison and moose.
Nearly all the different names you hear for wolves - timber, arctic, Mexican gray, buffalo,
plains, Canadian, tundra, ect. - are either nick-names or subspecies of the gray wolf.

The gray wolf’s progenitors probably first evolved in Eurasia 800,000 years
ago, spreading to North America via the Bering land bridge 300,000 - 400,000 years ago. Once
in North America, the gray wolf coexisted with the much larger and more powerful Dire wolf
until its extinction 8,000 years ago. Since that time the gray wolf has come to be the dominate
canine predator of the world, with 37 recognized subspecies ranging across six continents.

Red Wolf (Canis
rufus)

Red wolves (Canis rufus) are typically smaller than gray wolves, but larger than coyotes.
They usually have a shorter reddish coat with dark shading on the back and tail and white markings around
the lips. They have the same broad skull shape as the gray wolf, but lack a large ruff around the head and
have proportionately larger ears.

There has been much speculation in the past that red wolves are actually hybrids of gray
wolves and coyotes or are a subspecies of gray wolf. However, recent genetic test have shown them to be a
separate and distinct species.

At one time, red wolves lived across the U.S. southeast, but were hunted to near
extinction by the 1980's. Declared a critically endangered species, the last 14 wild red wolves ever found
were captured and put into a captive breeding program. There are now several hundred red wolves living in
zoos and breeding facilities across the country. There are now three island propagation programs (on Bulls
Island, South Carolina; St. Vincent Island, Florida; and Cape St. George Islands, Florida) where captive
red wolves have been released on small islands to live and breed as wild animals would in order to provide
a growing stock. The red wolf became the first species in the US to be successfully reintroduced after
extinction in the wild when a few were released into North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife
Refuge in 1987. There are now over 100 animals living in North Carolina.

Eastern Wolf (Canis
lycaon)

The eastern wolf was the first subspecies of gray wolf to be
identified in North America (Canis lupus lycaon). It is smaller than other gray wolf subspecies and has a reddish coat with
grey or black markings on its sides and back. Many have said that it more closely resembles coyotes or
red wolves than other gray wolves. They are also known as the eastern gray wolf, eastern timber wolf,
and Algonquin wolf.

Eastern wolves were historically native to the eastern United States from Florida to
Maine and west to the Mississippi River, as well as eastern Canada up to the Saint Lawrence corridor.
Today, the eastern wolf can only be found in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, adjacent parts of Quebec
and possibly around the Great Lakes in Minnesota and Manitoba.

Recent mtDNA analysis points toward the eastern wolf being a distinct species worthy of
its own classification as Canis lycaon, though no official change has yet been made. The fossil record and
DNA show that the eastern wolf, the red wolf and the coyote are all direct descendants of a primitive wolf
who came to North America 750,000 years ago. The gray wolf’s ancestor did not arrive in North America until
300,000 years ago during the Pleistocene glaciations. So, the eastern wolf’s closest relatives are the red
wolf and coyote.

However, there is much confusion over the status and classification of these wolves.
Since the eastern wolf and red wolf are so closely related, share many physical characteristics and had
historically overlapping ranges, many argue that the eastern wolf should be classified as a northern
subspecies of the red wolf. On the other hand, eastern wolves, red wolves and coyotes have all been known
to breed with each other upon occasion. The level of hybridization of these three canids is unknown, but
some suspect that the eastern wolf is not a distinct species or a subspecies of red wolf, but is actually
a red wolf/ coyote hybrid (coywolf). Adding to the confusion even further are the native gray wolves that
live alongside the eastern wolves and coyotes in Algonquin Provincial Park.

Regardless of their classification, there are only 150-170 eastern wolves left in the
wild. Habitat loss, hunting and trapping are the main obstacles facing the eastern wolf’s survival. Even
though Canada has declared them a species of special concern and is actively trying to protect them, eastern
wolves are regularly mistaken for coyotes or gray wolves and killed. As Algonquin Provincial Park is the
last stronghold for the eastern wolf, Canada enacted a permanent ban on hunting any wolves or coyotes in
the 30 townships surrounding the park in 2004. Hopefully this step has not come too late for the eastern
wolf… recent research shows that very few older wolves survive in the park, so the basic pack structure of
the eastern wolves is breaking down. With so few animals left, eastern wolves are wandering further,
coming into contact with more humans, and hybridizing with coyotes and gray wolves. With each generation
the genetic purity of the eastern wolf is disappearing.

Himalayan Wolf (Canis
himalayensis)

The small, light-colored wolves native to Northern India, Kashmir and Eastern Nepal were
long thought to be part of a subspecies of gray wolf called the Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco). However,
mtDNA analysis suggests that they should instead be classified as a distinct species – the Himalayan wolf
(Canis himalayensis). Along with the Indian wolf, Himalayan wolves may represent an ancient line of wolves
predating even Canis lupus. Himalayan and Indian wolves are probably the oldest living lineages of any wolf
species in the world, having been isolated on the Indian subcontinent for over 800,000 years. They are so
distinct, in fact, that they do not share any genetic markers with gray wolves or domestic dogs.

There are only about 350 Himalayan wolves left in the wild. Though critically endangered,
these wolves are still widely hunted as pests throughout their range in the Himalayan Mountains. Thankfully
India started a captive breeding program in 2001 with one lone female. With much work the captive
population has grown to include 21 animals.

Indian Wolf (Canis
indica)

Originally thought to be the same gray wolf subspecies as the Iranian wolf (Canis lupus
pallipes), the Indian wolf has recently been designated as a separate and distinct species (Canis indica).
Recent mtDNA analysis shows that the Indian wolf’s ancestors were isolated on the Indian subcontinent over
800,000 years ago, and then split to form the modern Indian wolf and Himalayan wolf some 400,000 years
ago. Though the Indian wolf’s range overlaps greatly with its closest relative, the Himalayan wolf, almost
no interbreeding has occurred because of behavioral differences.

The Indian wolf is one of the world’s smallest wolves, measuring only 24-38 inches in
height and weighing 40-60 pounds. They are almost always reddish or tawny in color with long legs and
narrow muzzles, and have a shorter and thinner coat than northern wolves.

Canis indica is only found in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. With 2,000-3,000 remaining in the
wild, Indians wolves are protected as an endangered species. However, they are still commonly hunted and
poisoned by locals because of attacks on livestock and children. These attacks are far more common in
Indian wolves than in other wolf species because nearly all of their large native prey was hunted to
extinction by humans.

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis
simensis)

The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) is only found in a few mountainous pockets of
Ethiopia. With fewer than 450-550 wild animals left, this unique species is considered the most critically
endangered species in Africa. Through protected from hunting and persecution across its range, the
Ethiopian wolf still faces very serious threats from rabies spread from local dogs and habitat loss.

Also knows as the Abyssinian wolf, red jackal and simian jackal, these remarkable animals
are Ethiopia’s national symbol. They often resemble a coyote in shape a size, with long legs and a long
muzzle. However their reddish coat with white throat, chest and underbelly markings are easily
distinguishable. Ethiopian wolves are thinner and lankier than northern wolves, weighing only 24-42
pounds. Their front feet have five toes, but the rear feet have only four. Recent analysis of Ethiopian
wolf mtDNA shows that they diverged to become a separate species 3-4 million years ago and that they are
more closely related to gray wolves and coyotes than to other African canines.

In keeping with their unusual physique, Ethiopian wolves also exhibit curious behavior
for wolves. They typically hunt by day, switching to nighttime activity only in areas where they are
harassed by humans. 90% of the Ethiopian wolf’s diet is made up of small rodents and they very rarely
prey on livestock. They live in patrilineal packs (males do not leave their natal pack, whereas females
disperse at an early age), but hunt alone. Most packs are made up of numerous related males and 1-2
unrelated females. Even so, females most often mate with males outside of their adopted pack.

Golden Jackal (Canis
aureus)

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a wolf in all but name. It is much more closely
related to wolves than to other jackals and probably evolved in Asia rather than Africa. They resemble
coyotes in general appearance but are smaller and lighter, and their vocalizations are very similar to
domestic dogs. Though the largest of the jackals, they only weigh 15-33 pounds. Golden jackal coat length
and color varies with their habitat but it is generally some shade of reddish-gray.

Canis aureus is the only jackal found outside of Africa. Their huge range spreads across
Northern Africa, Southeastern Europe, Western and Southern Asia, and across the Middle East. Though no
comprehensive population study has been conducted for the species, golden jackals are generally considered
to be thriving and are hunted throughout their range as pests. In Russia they are commercially hunted and
trapped for their fur, to be used in ladies’ hats and coats.

Golden jackals are highly adaptable animals – successfully living in the African
savannahs, European mountains and Indian tropical forests. They usually feed on small mammals, but have
been known to scavenge off larger carcasses. In India, they have been known to form symbiotic relationships
with wild tigers. The golden jackal follows the tiger at a distance and waits to clean up the scraps after
a kill. The jackals are also known for scouting out large prey and alerting tigers to the opportunity.
Perhaps it was their malleability and resourcefulness that lead the ancient Egyptians to worship the golden
jackal as Anubis, the god of embalming and the afterlife.

Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon
brachyurus)

The Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the only extant species in its genus and the
only wolf found in South America. Their ancestors migrated from North America to South America over 2
million years ago and evolved in isolation from other wolves. Today the maned wolf can be found in the
grasslands of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay. With 2,200-4,500 living in the wild,
maned wolves are threatened by habitat destruction, domestic dog diseases and increasingly common car
collisions. Though maned wolf eyes are coveted as good luck charms in Brazil, the species is protected
as near threatened throughout its range.

Maned wolves are the tallest wild canid in the world, standing over 3 feet tall at the
shoulder. They are also the largest canid in South America, measuring 4 feet long and 44-55 pounds.
With its incredibly long legs, red and black coat and narrow muzzle, the maned wolf is commonly thought
of as a large red fox on stilts. The theory is that their long legs allow them to see over the tall,
thick grasses of their home.

To go along with their distinctly unwolf-like appearance, the maned wolf also exhibits
some atypical behavior. They do not live in packs. Males and females form life-long monogamous pairs who
share a territory but only interact during the breeding season. They hunt in the same fashion as their
smaller cousin, the red fox, by stalking small mammals through grass, jumping high to pounce, and shaking
the prey. They also feed on birds, fish, sugarcane, tubers and fruit. Due to their unusual diet, maned
wolves are not a threat to cattle or sheep, but do sometimes raid chicken coops. They are very rarely
observed in the wild because of the extremely shy nature, so much of their life history is still a mystery.

Falkland Islands Wolf (Dusicyon australis)

The Falkland Islands wolf is the first known canid species to have gone extinct in
historical times. It was first scientifically named by Charles Darwin as Canis antarcticus when he visited
the Falkland Islands during his voyage on the Beagle in 1833. Darwin was captivated by the wolves’ bold
nature, curiously running up to him as he stepped on the beach. Four of the small wolves were brought back
to London by Darwin for study but they only survived a few years. Darwin was fascinated by the tawny
colored wolves with white-tipped tails because they were the only land mammal native to the Falkland
Islands. He wanted to figure out if they were related to the canids he had observed on the South American
mainland and how they had gotten so far out to sea.

While Darwin continued his work back in England, settlers on the Falkland Islands deemed
the wolves a threat to their sheep. They waged a massive campaign to wipe out the Falkland Island wolves.
The wolves were poisoned and shot on a massive scale. Amazingly, since the wolves were not afraid of the
people, trappers regularly lured wild wolves up to them by holding meat in one hand. Then while the wolf
was eating the trapper would kill it with a knife held in the other hand. The settlers were successful in
their quest – the Falkland Islands wolf was extinct by 1876.

Even after their extinction, speculation continued about the ancestry of the Falkland
Islands wolf. In 1880, Thomas Huxley classified them as closely related to the coyote. It wasn’t until
1914 that Oldfield Thomas moved the Falklands Island wolf into a new genus and renamed it
Dusicyon
australis. In 2009, mtDNA analysis showed that the Falkland Islands wolf was, indeed, the only modern
species in its genus. Evidence shows that its ancestors separated from Asian and European wolves 6.7
million years ago when they migrated to North America. The Falkland Islands wolf’s progenitor probably
diverged from that of the maned wolf three million years ago while still in North America. Then two
million years ago, the Falkland Islands wolf’s ancestor migrated to South America. By the time Darwin
came along, they were only found on the Falkland Islands (the mainland population was probably killed off
during a small ice age sometime before modern humans arrived).